Ordered packing

Abstract: An ordered packing 10 comprises elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 having lengthwise extending surfaces configured to be wetted by a liquid phase thereby to form a liquid film thereon. The elongate elements are packed together into a structure such that in each of a plurality of parallel planes, extending in two orthogonal directions, the elongate elements cross one another to form lattices having openings defined between the crossings of the elements. The elongate elements are interleaved within the structure such that elongate elements pass through the openings in the lattices and form repeating clusters of four of the elongate element in a pyramid-like arrangement. Each of the clusters of the elongate elements and their lengthwise extending surfaces provide pathways for the film to descend through the structure. The structure has an open area for a vapour phase to ascend through the structure and contact the liquid phase.

Description: The present invention relates to an ordered packing to contact intimately vapour and liquid phases ascending and descending within a column. The prior art has provided liquid-gas mass transfer elements within columns or towers to bring ascending and descending vapour and liquid phases into intimate contact in distillation and absorption processes. Common liquid-gas mass transfer elements are sieve trays, plates and packing elements. Packing elements can be random or dumped such as the well known Raschig rings or can have a fixed or ordered structure relative to the column axes. The latter packings include structured packings, which consist of parallel metal or woven gauze sheets that can be crimped in a herringbone or sinusoidal pattern. Each of the sheets can also have an embossment. The sheets are assembled face to face so that the directions of the crimpings cross one another to provide alternative pathways for the vapour to ascend and the liquid to descend through the packing in a countercurrent direction to one another. Perforations can be provided within the sheets to permit mass transfer in a direction normal to the sheets. In structured packings formed by vertically arranged sheets, as the liquid descends through the packing, it will, by and large, spread out along two opposite directions parallel to the sheets. Therefore, liquid flow in a direction normal to the sheets will be inhibited. The perforations provided in the sheets permit some liquid migration in a direction normal to the sheets, however, such perforations only make up less than 10% of the area provided by the sheets and hence, such migration is limited. A further problem related to the use of any structured packing concerns the possibility of deformation of the packing due to shocks and vibrations attendant upon the transportation of a column containing structured packing to an erection site. It is this possibility of packing deformation which can limit the size of factory built packings. The packing is normally installed in a column or tower in segments, each segment filling the diameter of the column or tower and consisting of packing material of identical orientation bounded by horizontal planes spaced apart by six or more inches. In the usual arrangement, each segment is rotated 90° about its vertical axis in relation to the segments above and below, placing the vertical planes of the sheets in the adjacent segments. As will be discussed, the present invention provides an ordered packing that inherently provides a more uniform distribution of descending liquid through the packing. Additionally, the ordered packing of the present invention is stronger than the known crimped, sheet-type structured packing to permit larger factory packed columns to be produced. According to the present invention there is provided an ordered packing for intimately contacting a vapour phase with a liquid phase, said ordered packing comprising: a plurality of elongate elements, each of the elongate elements having at least one elongate surface configured to be wetted by the liquid phase and thereby form a film of the liquid phase on the said elongate surface; the plurality of elongate elements being packed to form a structure such that in each of a plurality of parallel planes, extending in two orthogonal directions, the elongate elements cross one another to form lattices having openings defined between the crossings of the elements; the plurality of elongate elements being interleaved within said structure such that elongate elements pass through the openings of the lattices and form repeating clusters of four of the elongate elements in a pyramid-like arrangement, thereby to provide by each of said clusters and the said elongate surface of each of the elongate elements thereof, at least four pathways for the liquid phase to descend through the structure; and the structure having an open area for the vapour phase to ascend through the structure and contact the descending liquid phase. Instead of having the preferential bi-directional distribution path of the known structured packing, the packing of the present invention has four different pathways for the liquid phase to descend anywhere in a packing in accordance with the present invention. Moreover, the structure formed by the elongate elements is strong enough to permit large masses of packings to be assembled within a column in a factory installation and to allow the finished column to be transported to a site of intended use. A packing according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordered packing formulated in accordance with the present invention. Elongate elements in this Figure have been extended by phantom lines to help the reader follow the various elongate elements of the packing; Figure 2A is a side elevational view of Figure 1 with elongate elements extending parallel to a plane having a normal orientation to this figure removed to illustrate a lattice of the elongate elements; Figure 2B is a fragmentary, side elevational view of Figure 1 with elongate elements oriented in a plane normal and extending inwardly from the illustration removed; Figure 2C is a side elevational view of Figure 1 as seen from the same vantage as Figure 2 B, with the elongate elements oriented in a plane normal and extending inwardly from the illustration added; Figure 3A is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2A taken along line 3A-3A of Figure 2A; Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view of Figure 2B taken along line 3B-3B of Figure 2B; Figure 3C is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 derived by the combination Figures 3A and 3B; and Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a cluster of four elongate elements arranged in a pyramid-like arrangement of the ordered packing of Figure 1 illustrated in isolation from the other elongate elements making up the ordered packing of Figure 1. With reference to Figure 1, a section of an ordered packing 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The section of ordered packing 10 could be a portion of a cylindrical mass of packing used in forming a packing bed within a distillation or absorption column. However, the packing could be formed in any shape and for any purpose or use involving contacting a liquid phase and a vapour phase. With additional reference to Figures 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, ordered packing 10 of the present invention is formed from a plurality of elongate elements 12, 14 16 and 18. Elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 are assembled to form a structure such that in a plurality of parallel planes extending in two orthogonal directions, the elongate elements cross one another to form lattices. One of the lattices can be seen in Fig. 2A for elements 16 and 18. In Fig. 2A, elements 12 and 14 have been removed to show the form of such a lattice. Similarly, in Fig. 2B, elements 14 have been removed to show an elevation view of the lattices formed by elements 16 and 18. In each of these lattices, the elements cross one another to define openings, for instance openings 20 defined between the crossings of the elements 16 and 18. Similar openings would be formed between the crossings of elements 12 and 14. Preferably, the angle of crossing of elongate elements 12 and 14; and elements 16 and 18 is about 90°. It is to be noted that not all elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 have the same length in order to form the ordered packing shown in Figure 1 of cubic shape. In order to construct the cubic section of ordered packing 10, the lengths of diagonal elements decrease towards the corner of the cube. With reference to Figure 2C and 3C, elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 are interleaved. In the interleaving, elements 12 and 14 pass through openings 20 of the lattices formed by elongate elements 16 and 18; and elongate elements 16 and 18 pass through similar openings defined between elements 12 and 14. Figures 3A and 3B are another illustration of the lattices extending along a plurality of parallel planes oriented in two orthogonal directions. With further reference to Figure 4, the interleaving of the elements produces repeating clusters of elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 in a pyramid-like arrangement. By "pyramid-like" it is understood that this term does not mean that elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 intersect one another in an apex, but rather, that elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 cross one another to extend out in four directions and that surfaces of the elements therefore extending in the four directions form pathways for the film of liquid phase to descend within the structure. In ordered packing 10, the pathways are formed by elongate surfaces of each of the elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 denoted by reference numerals 22, 24, 26 and 28. As such, each element contributes four pathways for the film to descend through the structure of elongate elements 12 through 18. Elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 are formed by L-shaped channels and as such, each have lengthwise extending edges 30 and 32. Elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 are oriented so that elongate edges 30 and 32 of elements 12 and 14 contact one another at their crossings and elongate edges 30 and 32 of elements 16 and 18 contact one another at their crossings. Ordered packing 10 has an open area. Generally speaking, the assemblage of elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 fits within a bounded volume, for instance a distillation column. The actual volume occupied by the elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 alone is much less than the bounded volume and this difference provides the "open area." In the illustrated embodiment, the open area is formed by the space between the L-shaped channels. Vapour can ascend through the ordered packing through such open area to contact the descending liquid phase. Although not illustrated, elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 could be embossed, and/or further could have perforations as is known, vertically arranged sheet-like structured packing. It is also possible to have elongate elements 12, 14, 16 and 18 intersect at an angle different from 90° to change the performance of the packing. For instance if a 60° angle were used, there would be more open space between elongate elements to increase the open area of the packing while providing steeper surfaces for the falling film to decrease residence time of the liquid phase within the packing. It is also possible to form an ordered packing in accordance with the present invention out of elongate elements other than L-shaped channels, for instance rods. In such case, each element would contribute a single surface to be wetted by the falling film. Ordered packing 10 is assembled from sheet-like material which is first crimped in an accordion-like manner and at an angle of, for instance 45° to form a 90° crossing angle. The sheet-like material is then cut to form two spined combs of elongate elements which are used to form two sets of the elongate elements. The combs are then criss-crossed and attached together with, for instance, two spot welds to form lattices in one orthogonal direction. After removal of the spines of the combs, a series of the formed lattices can be held in a conventionally formed jig. Spined combs of elongate elements are then oriented in the other of the two orthogonal directions and are interleaved with the formed lattices. The spines of such combs are then removed and the elongate elements, for instance, 16 and 18 are appropriately attached to elongate elements 12 and 14.

Claims: An ordered packing for intimately contacting a vapour phase with a liquid phase, said ordered packing comprising: a plurality of elongate elements, each of the elongate elements having at least one elongate surface configured to be wetted by the liquid phase and thereby form a film of the liquid phase on the said elongate surface; the plurality of elongate elements being packed to form a structure such that in each of a plurality of parallel planes, extending in two orthogonal directions, the elongate elements cross one another to form lattices having openings defined between the crossings of the elements; the plurality of elongate elements being interleaved within said structure such that elongate elements pass through the openings of the lattices and form repeating clusters of four of the elongate elements in a pyramid-like arrangement, thereby to provide by each of said clusters and the said elongate surface of each of the elongate elements thereof, at least four pathways for the liquid phase to descend through the structure; and the structure having an open area for the vapour phase to ascend through the structure and contact the descending liquid phase. An ordered packing according to Claim 1, wherein the elongate elements cross one another at an angle of about 90°. An ordered packing according to Claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the elongate elements is formed by an L-shaped channel. An ordered packing according to claim 3, wherein the elongate elements at their crossings contact one another along two parallel edges thereof. An ordered packing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the packing comprises first and second sets of parallel lattices, the first set being disposed at such an angle to the second set and the lattices of the two sets so intersecting one another as to define said clusters.

Inventors: GATES ROBERT G, GATES, ROBERT G.
Applicants: BOC GROUP INC, THE BOC GROUP, INC.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B01J19
IPC codes: F28F25, B01J19